Help! Week old runner ducks sneezing!

[peepquackwaddle]

It started Sunday afternoon when I noticed my one baby sneezing a concerning amount. I also noticed she was breathing a bit fast so I messaged my friend that’s experienced with ducks. She told me to separate her just in case, so I did. I have 3 female runner ducks that have become very close in the past week. Since separating, the two still in the brooder chirp loudly and sleep on the side of the brooder near the separated duck, and they spend most of their time there. The sneezing baby stopped sneezing as much later in the day and hasn’t sneezed as much since, but completely stopped after a nap in my arms. She has been sneezing a little bit but no longer a concerning amount, but she also seems to be very attached to me, chirping loudly when i leave the room for only a minute. The others have since started sneezing but show no other signs of illness ( neither did the original sneezin baby ).

Now my question : Illness or Stress?

Sorry for the long paragraph! I’m just trying to give as much info as possible to help my ducklings!!

 

[peepquackwaddle]

It started Sunday afternoon when I noticed my one baby sneezing a concerning amount. I also noticed she was breathing a bit fast so I messaged my friend that’s experienced with ducks. She told me to separate her just in case, so I did. I have 3 female runner ducks that have become very close in the past week. Since separating, the two still in the brooder chirp loudly and sleep on the side of the brooder near the separated duck, and they spend most of their time there. The sneezing baby stopped sneezing as much later in the day and hasn’t sneezed as much since, but completely stopped after a nap in my arms. She has been sneezing a little bit but no longer a concerning amount, but she also seems to be very attached to me, chirping loudly when i leave the room for only a minute. The others have since started sneezing but show no other signs of illness ( neither did the original sneezin baby ).

Now my question : Illness or Stress?

Sorry for the long paragraph! I’m just trying to give as much info as possible to help my ducklings!!

Not sure if I added but they are only a week old tomorrow and i’m writing this on Monday, the day after symptoms started.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

What's your set up like? Do they have water they can dip their heads in which willflush their eyes and nares?

 

[peepquackwaddle]

What's your set up like? Do they have water they can dip their heads in which willflush their eyes and nares?

I have a 39x39 baby playpen ( it was the only thing available at the time ) with old towels as the bedding being changed AT LEAST once a day. They have water that can flush whatever they need. They’ve been in pretty clean and healthy conditions this week besides the sudden sneezing.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Can you show me your set up? Sneezing in ducklings is usually because they are trying to clear their nares. They have to be able to dunk their head in at least up to their eyes. I used a bowl with a lid. The lid was cut so that there was a half moon section out that was big enough for them to stick their head in, but not get into the bowl. The water and food was placed on a tray to keep the mess as contained as possible.

The towels might be getting too wet and messy. I don't know I never used them for ducklings. If they are getting to wet from water and poo, this could make their environment cold. I used pine shavings and still had to clean daily, if not twice per day.

You didn't mention, but I have to ask - do they have a heat source?

They can have a small basin of water to swim in. But, at this age just for a few mins and they must be dried off and back under heat when swim time is done. I would bring the swim water out every evening and they loved it.

Also, they will get more anxious being separated.

Have you come in contact with any other poultry?

 

[peepquackwaddle]

Can you show me your set up? Sneezing in ducklings is usually because they are trying to clear their nares. They have to be able to dunk their head in at least up to their eyes. I used a bowl with a lid. The lid was cut so that there was a half moon section out that was big enough for them to stick their head in, but not get into the bowl. The water and food was placed on a tray to keep the mess as contained as possible.

The towels might be getting too wet and messy. I don't know I never used them for ducklings. If they are getting to wet from water and poo, this could make their environment cold. I used pine shavings and still had to clean daily, if not twice per day.

You didn't mention, but I have to ask - do they have a heat source?

They can have a small basin of water to swim in. But, at this age just for a few mins and they must be dried off and back under heat when swim time is done. I would bring the swim water out every evening and they loved it.

Also, they will get more anxious being separated.

Have you come in contact with any other poultry?

I’ll send a picture as soon as I figure out how lol! They have a heat lamp that they were using up until they were separated, now the two sleep in the corner near the box for the other duckling. Their food and water is on a tray that i change multiple times a day when it gets messy, and no contact with any other poultry since they’ve arrived. I haven’t introduced them to swimming yet because they were still quite small, and now i’m pushing that back a little longer because of the sneezing problem. They have no other symptoms of being sick but could it be something respiratory?

 

[Crazy Maizie]

I’ll send a picture as soon as I figure out how lol! They have a heat lamp that they were using up until they were separated, now the two sleep in the corner near the box for the other duckling. Their food and water is on a tray that i change multiple times a day when it gets messy, and no contact with any other poultry since they’ve arrived. I haven’t introduced them to swimming yet because they were still quite small, and now i’m pushing that back a little longer because of the sneezing problem. They have no other symptoms of being sick but could it be something respiratory?

They really need heat until they are much older and have a good set of feathers unless you're keeping them in 90° temps.
They don't need separated since they are all sneezing.
It could be respiratory if they don't have adequate heat or their environment is too wet/cold.

 

[peepquackwaddle]

They really need heat until they are much older and have a good set of feathers unless you're keeping them in 90° temps.
They don't need separated since they are all sneezing.
It could be respiratory if they don't have adequate heat or their environment is too wet/cold.

Ok, I think i’ll put them back together tonight and keep an eye on them to make sure. I was looking into VetRX as a backup if it doesn’t get better? Not sure if that’s the right way to go though.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Ok, I think i’ll put them back together tonight and keep an eye on them to make sure. I was looking into VetRX as a backup if it doesn’t get better? Not sure if that’s the right way to go though.

Not sure you need that. I've only used it on adult chickens. It's a strong scented oil like vicks. If you use it, just a small dab (like use a qtip), under their nares, but be careful with it. I saw someone who wasn't familiar with it use too much and it peeled the keratin layer off of a chicken's beak. Ducks would most likely wash it off in their water. But, I think you can add a drop to their water (offering a bowl of fresh water as well).
But, they need heat like now.
You could add some poultry cell to their water. If you do, make sure to have a fresh bowl of water as well.

 

[peepquackwaddle]

Not sure you need that. I've only used it on adult chickens. It's a strong scented oil like vicks. If you use it, just a small dab (like use a qtip), under their nares, but be careful with it. I saw someone who wasn't familiar with it use too much and it peeled the keratin layer off of a chicken's beak. Ducks would most likely wash it off in their water. But, I think you can add a drop to their water (offering a bowl of fresh water as well).
But, they need heat like now.
You could add some poultry cell to their water. If you do, make sure to have a fresh bowl of water as well.

Getting them back to the heater asap They currently have nutri-drench in their water and a bit of brewers yeast in their food.